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Tough as Naked

An inspiring story that shows you are at your strongest when you dare to ask for help.
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Duration: 30-60 min
Optional workshop
Optional stage talk
An inspiring story that shows you are at your strongest when you dare to ask for help.

About the talk

Arman Vestad supplied weapons for the Orderud murders, was a career criminal, and overdosed seven days in a row. He knew the price per kilo of gold, but not the cost of a liter of milk. How could things go so wrong?

And – how was it possible to take back control of money and life, become a national project leader at NAV, and a highly respected expert in personal finance?

It started imperceptibly in middle school…

Today’s young people are told that «everything is possible» and «you can be whatever you want.» Reality doesn’t always play along. The dream of a bright future quickly collides with experiences where belonging, mastery, recognition, and security aren’t sufficiently nurtured.

We need the group to be generous and strong. We need the group to take care of its resources, across diversity and different circumstances. But the group isn’t made of machines or numbers in a spreadsheet. The group is made of people.

It’s hard to find your place to shine. It’s even harder to help others find their place to shine.

  • The proportion of young people experiencing loneliness is the highest ever recorded
  • Loneliness carries an increased health risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day
  • The prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms has gradually increased among girls since the early 2010s
  • 30-50 percent of the adult population will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime
  • 290,000 children in Norway have parents who suffer from mental health disorders or alcohol abuse
  • Suicide is globally the second leading cause of death for people between 15 and 29 years old

Some of those who choose ArmanV

Kjellbjørn Johansen

Police Specialist, Molde Police

Arman has an incredible story. Of those who have been through something similar, very few dare and are able to share it. That makes it all the more important that Arman steps forward and tells his story the way he does

Christian Poppe

Researcher, National Institute for Consumer Research and Oslo MET

Arman’s dramatic story illustrates something that concerns us all: how social belonging and the desire to be accepted are linked to spending – and, for some, serious financial problems. A vivid illustration of an important research finding!

Signe Skjørholm

Union of Education Norway
An excellent and thought-provoking talk. The members of the Union of Education expressed afterward that they had heard quite a life story.

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